Overheard at Work

[Cheddar Stacker]

Or you could just, you know, remember where the frack you parked. Your brain works for free.

LOL.   If only it were that easy...

I wasn't referring to you MrsPotts so hopefully no offense was taken. Certainly wasn't intended. I was referring to the saps paying $5k for a device to do it for them.

[MrsPotts]

Or you could just, you know, remember where the frack you parked. Your brain works for free.

LOL.   If only it were that easy...

I wasn't referring to you MrsPotts so hopefully no offense was taken. Certainly wasn't intended. I was referring to the saps paying $5k for a device to do it for them.

No worries.  I wallow in my blondness.  ;)

[Shropskr]

Or hold up your remote control and push the lock button.  Beep beep.  Follow the beep.  Wow found my car.  Hate to admit it but I've done this before.  The range is really quite long 1/4-1/2 blockish  so as long as your in the right neighborhood.  You can find your car. 

[lpep]

I'm teaching English at an international school in Hanoi, Vietnam. Right now we're in summer school, teaching 15 hours per week. For this, we earn $1200 per month. I've been happy earning that much because I'm a newer teacher, I like not working full time for now, and my living costs are about $500/month, which includes paying $45 car insurance on a car I left back home in the states, average $50/month for visas, and about $225 rent and utilities.

Some of us have been offered jobs teaching full time for the school year, including me and a couple other teachers. The offer is $2000/month, which is admittedly low for full time teaching, but one of my co-workers was complaining that she would have to give up her apartment and her dog if she made "only" $2000/month. How is it even possible to spend that much in Hanoi?!?!

I would love to teach english in a foreign country.

How is she covering an apartment and dog on $1200/month?

Two other jobs.

I don't understand it.

[Cinder]

Or hold up your remote control and push the lock button.  Beep beep.  Follow the beep.  Wow found my car.  Hate to admit it but I've done this before.  The range is really quite long 1/4-1/2 blockish  so as long as your in the right neighborhood.  You can find your car.

That's what the daughter WAS doing, she just went up to the wrong huge SUV that was the same color as hers I guess.   My wife and I counted the number of rows, that seemed to work fine for us (she always  gently berates me about not using the 'findmycar' app that I have on my phone but don't use)

[AlanStache]

I always make a note of the section/isle number I park in at the airport, is WAY to easy to forget where you parked after several weeks.  Not sure why I need an special app, 'parked in g5' can be handled by any smartphone note app.  Else I could see taking a picture of a landmark from where you car is if there are no section names/numbers.  5k$?!?!  Would it be wrong to think those people deserve to loose 5k?  Not sure my car is worth 5k.  I have walked up and tried to enter the wrong car a few times, was always a rental but still felt rather dumb.

[econberkeley]

I started at a new job so I have been trying to familiarize myself with work benefits. I attended the HR benefit workshop and some of the things really shocked me.  By the way, this is one of the largest energy companies in U.S.

Me: I heard at the HR presentation that there is no discount for ESSP. Why would you buy if there is no discount? By the way, HR rep said you do not have pay brokerage fees when you buy so it is a great deal!!  I am serious. This is what she said:)
Coworker: Actually, I have been buying for several years.
Me: Are you serious? Why are you buying it? What is so special about this stock?
Coworker: It was going up so I bought it. For some reason, it started going down for the last couple of years. (By the way, she has a finance degree:) )
Me: What about the pension money? Do you know where the company put the money? It is not on the 401k website. I could not find it in the benefits instructions.
Coworker: I thought it is on the same website.
Me: No, it is not there.
At the end of the conversation, she mention that she lets the 401k company manage her portfolio for a fee.  This wasn't the end. She showed me the penny stocks that she has been trading. Actually, most of the stock she showed me what less than a 1/0 of a penny. I just could not take it anymore and left. I can only tolerate certain amount of finance ignorance in a day:)

I just don't understand how she can retire by making so many mistakes so early in life.

[boarder42]

This wasnt at work but back in college i attended a personal finance seminar.  Sweet the college is gonna help all these young engineers out and get them a jump start on saving smartly.  WRONG

Seminar is lead by get this a Car Salesman.  I brought up many points throughout his lecture(This was preMMM i was just raised half mustache).  After the presentation the Career affairs lady running it asked me if i would like to come back and give the presentation next year since i was graduating.  I said i'd love to.  then she went on to ask what my degree was and since i was an engineer and not a finance major the conversation basically stopped there.  I'm sure they are still bringing in the same car salesman to do this pitch.   i dont remember everything but a few of his main points were all about how people were going to be investing in NEW CARS once they graduated and that he recommended you do the math b/c getting the 0% APR sometimes works out worse than taking the 5k they are giving you with a 1.9% rate etc.  and if people had any questions he could help them figure out which finance rate was the best.  i asked him pointed questions about Trad. vs. Roth and he didnt know what a roth was. 

So to sum it up in 5 years at a fantastic engineering university the only financial advice the university offered was optional and led by a car salesman.  'Merica!!!

[capital]

Or you could just, you know, remember where the frack you parked. Your brain works for free.

I don't remember how the conversation started, but I was talking with a co-worker about how expensive cars were. He told me cars may now (or soon?) be required to have those cameras that let you know what's behind you so you can park...or was it something to warn you when you are changing lanes that another car was in that lane...or something riduculous like that.

The idea of the backup camera requirement that's coming up is to prevent people from backing over children & animals in their blind spots. And digital camera sensors and small screens have gotten really cheap these days— you can sell a smartphone for $130 retail and still make a profit, and it has a lot more components than just a camera and a screen!
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Moto-Global-Unlocked-Black/dp/B00K0NRYF6

Of course, far more lives could be saved by lowering & enforcing the speed limits on city streets, but backup cameras are a modest-cost, reasonable mitigation of a genuine danger.

Lane warning systems aren't required yet, but apparently might be in the future, and also apparently work just with a relatively cheap camera and software that's amortized over millions of cars.

Car manufacturers might charge an arm and a leg for such features as options, but that's because they can, not because safety features are inherently expensive— a camera sensor is certainly much cheaper than an airbag, and probably cheaper than a seatbelt even.

[AlmostIndependent]

Or you could just, you know, remember where the frack you parked. Your brain works for free.

I don't remember how the conversation started, but I was talking with a co-worker about how expensive cars were. He told me cars may now (or soon?) be required to have those cameras that let you know what's behind you so you can park...or was it something to warn you when you are changing lanes that another car was in that lane...or something riduculous like that.

The idea of the backup camera requirement that's coming up is to prevent people from backing over children & animals in their blind spots. And digital camera sensors and small screens have gotten really cheap these days— you can sell a smartphone for $130 retail and still make a profit, and it has a lot more components than just a camera and a screen!
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Moto-Global-Unlocked-Black/dp/B00K0NRYF6

Of course, far more lives could be saved by lowering & enforcing the speed limits on city streets, but backup cameras are a modest-cost, reasonable mitigation of a genuine danger.

Lane warning systems aren't required yet, but apparently might be in the future, and also apparently work just with a relatively cheap camera and software that's amortized over millions of cars.

Car manufacturers might charge an arm and a leg for such features as options, but that's because they can, not because safety features are inherently expensive— a camera sensor is certainly much cheaper than an airbag, and probably cheaper than a seatbelt even.

Tesla is trying to get regulations changed to allow cameras to replace mirrors on cars. The energy savings of not having to push a mirror through the air would more than make up for the cost (what is the cost difference between a big mirror and a small camera anyways?) of putting it in the vehicle.

[Hedge_87]

(what is the cost difference between a big mirror and a small camera anyways?)

What is the maintenance cost on a video surveillance system Vs a simple mirror?  I'm a big fan of reliability and low maintenance cost. I'm sure the camera will work for the first couple of owners but by the time I typically buy them these are the things that start to break. When it comes to vehicles the simpler the better for me.

[AlanStache]

Tesla is trying to get regulations changed to allow cameras to replace mirrors on cars. The energy savings of not having to push a mirror through the air would more than make up for the cost (what is the cost difference between a big mirror and a small camera anyways?) of putting it in the vehicle.

F-ing cool!!!  If I were in the market for a +60k car, Tesla would be the first dealer I stopped at.

Re back up cameras: is not all about the total lives.  When you kill someone driving to fast in a neighborhood you probably dont know them but when you back over a kid it was probably yours or your neighbors.  Maybe sort of the same from a high level but I bet most people would be a heck of a lot more messed up having killed there own kid vs some random guy.  :-( 

Yeah and when it is standard each company has more of an incentive to do it cheaply vs as an option, got into this argument with a friend years back, he insisted all cars would suddenly cost X$ more where X is the option price.  Also manufacturing efficiency's help cut costs.

What is the maintenance cost on a video surveillance system Vs a simple mirror?  I'm a big fan of reliability and low maintenance cost. I'm sure the camera will work for the first couple of owners but by the time I typically buy them these are the things that start to break. When it comes to vehicles the simpler the better for me.

Big commercial aircraft cockpits have replaced physical gauge backup instruments with digital screens as the digital version are MORE reliable, may or may not be the case with personal cars.  Also living on a very narrow street I have seen plenty of parked cars mirrors broken due to careless drivers.

[AlmostIndependent]

(what is the cost difference between a big mirror and a small camera anyways?)

What is the maintenance cost on a video surveillance system Vs a simple mirror?  I'm a big fan of reliability and low maintenance cost. I'm sure the camera will work for the first couple of owners but by the time I typically buy them these are the things that start to break. When it comes to vehicles the simpler the better for me.

What is simple about a mirror in a car? Nothing. At the very least they have mechanical linkages so they can be adjusted from inside. More likely they are using electric controls with small motors to move the mirror. My sister broke one off when she was learning to drive and it cost $165 just to buy the part to replace it.

[grantmeaname]

Tesla would be the first dealer I stopped at.

Where would you find a Tesla dealership?

[AlmostIndependent]

Tesla would be the first dealer I stopped at.

Where would you find a Tesla dealership?

Ha! You beat me to it.

[AlanStache]

Fairly close to most major US cities.

[Rural]

(what is the cost difference between a big mirror and a small camera anyways?)

What is the maintenance cost on a video surveillance system Vs a simple mirror?  I'm a big fan of reliability and low maintenance cost. I'm sure the camera will work for the first couple of owners but by the time I typically buy them these are the things that start to break. When it comes to vehicles the simpler the better for me.

What is simple about a mirror in a car? Nothing. At the very least they have mechanical linkages so they can be adjusted from inside. More likely they are using electric controls with small motors to move the mirror. My sister broke one off when she was learning to drive and it cost $165 just to buy the part to replace it.

Mine's simple and doesn't have any of those linkages or motors. It's easily adjustable; just crank down the window and move it. Simple.

[Hedge_87]

Mine too rural. Once the mirror is positioned correctly it is almost as fool proof device as you can get. Some times people just need to leave the wheel alone and stop trying to reinvent it. I'm sure $165 won't come close to touching the cameras of the future.must ask anybody who has had to replace the headlight on a prius.

[grantmeaname]

Fairly close to most major US cities.

You missed that whole debacle between Tesla and the dealers?

Those are company-owned stores. In three or four states (including the great state of Ohio, as well as New Jersey where it's in the news the most), dealers' lobbying associations are suing Tesla or lobbying for the state legislatures to make/keep direct sales by the automaker illegal.

[otherbarry]

Fairly close to most major US cities.

You missed that whole debacle between Tesla and the dealers?

Those are company-owned stores. In three or four states (including the great state of Ohio, as well as New Jersey where it's in the news the most), dealers' lobbying associations are suing Tesla or lobbying for the state legislatures to make/keep direct sales by the automaker illegal.

Wow, free market everyone. Make sure the product you develop and manufacture can't be sold by you. Car salesmen I swear.

[AlanStache]

Fairly close to most major US cities.

You missed that whole debacle between Tesla and the dealers?

Those are company-owned stores. In three or four states (including the great state of Ohio, as well as New Jersey where it's in the news the most), dealers' lobbying associations are suing Tesla or lobbying for the state legislatures to make/keep direct sales by the automaker illegal.

Sorry yes I had heard of the direct sales (and bans/law suits/etc ), slipped my mind while posting; was thinking of 'dealer' in generic terms like 'where they have lots of one make of car for sale and a big sign that says FORD'.

[Rbuckyfuller]

I'm at a work function with a young BigLaw associate; we work in Midtown Manhattan on Park Ave.  He makes 160k or more.   Because partnership prospects are terrible, I make an off-hand comment that you just have to save as much as you can while you still have a job.  He mentions that he doesn't understand how people save money.  I'm confused (I save 60-70% of my salary) and it turns out that for Manhattan, his rent is dirt cheap.  So I get really confused.

Me: Okay. . . . .  So what do you spend it on?
Him: Man, we work on Park Avenue, everything is hella expensive.
Me: Right; I agree. So what do you spend it on?
Him: Man, I must spend $50-60 a day just on food, minimum.   Have you ever been to Dishes??[a local to-go lunch place that is hella expensive].  I mean, you get lunch and it is $26.
Me: Yeah.  Dishes is hella expensive.  But you know what isn't hella expensive?  The food cart right next to Dishes.
Him: Come on man, we make 6-figures.  I'm not eating at a freaking food cart.
Me (to myself): [If you live like you make 6-figures, and you make 6-figures, of course you are never going to save any money.  Simple, simple math.]

If this is the dishes I know, I can tell you the owner is comfortably making 7 figures, off of the 6 figure chumps who should be spending like they make 5, in their 4 figure shoes, 3 figure shirts, eating 2 figure lunches. Go figure.

Also, who says hella in manhattan?

For those of you with issues with "hella" -- no one says that in Manhattan.   Excuse my poetic license, he used other expressions of extremes, some were a bit more vulgar.

At chesebert, the other big law associate who commented --  I agree that you are in a far better position for partnership if you have money saved.  There are often "buyins" to partnership, etc.  I don't think I'm interested in being a partner.  The partners at my BigFirm do not have lives I envy.

[Elyse]

My boss this morning:  "You shouldn't be saving for retirement yet.  Most of your savings will be in the last decade of your career when you are making the big money."

Me: "But what about getting match at least?  And you are missing the market gains if you don't save now."

Boss: "That is just a trick to get you to save when you shouldn't."


I try to keep my financial mouth closed around work.  The rest of the conversation was carefully dancing around the issue.

[dandarc]

Mine too rural. Once the mirror is positioned correctly it is almost as fool proof device as you can get. Some times people just need to leave the wheel alone and stop trying to reinvent it. I'm sure $165 won't come close to touching the cameras of the future.must ask anybody who has had to replace the headlight on a prius.

Lucked out on this - turns out my wife's is a 2010 Prius.  Were it a 2009 (which I thought it was), would have had to remove the front bumper to replace the light bulb.

[infogoon]

(what is the cost difference between a big mirror and a small camera anyways?)

What is the maintenance cost on a video surveillance system Vs a simple mirror?  I'm a big fan of reliability and low maintenance cost. I'm sure the camera will work for the first couple of owners but by the time I typically buy them these are the things that start to break. When it comes to vehicles the simpler the better for me.

What is simple about a mirror in a car? Nothing. At the very least they have mechanical linkages so they can be adjusted from inside. More likely they are using electric controls with small motors to move the mirror. My sister broke one off when she was learning to drive and it cost $165 just to buy the part to replace it.

It's even more expensive if you've got a mirror with a heating unit or a turn signal on it.

[VillageIdiot]

Getting a lift from a manager to a training event closer to downtown in his Toyota TRD (Toyota Racing Development) truck. Asked him why he didn't get a wagon (even a new outback would beat the mileage of this thing easily), "When you have kids you need room for them".

[MooseOutFront]

My boss this morning:  "You shouldn't be saving for retirement yet.  Most of your savings will be in the last decade of your career when you are making the big money."

Me: "But what about getting match at least?  And you are missing the market gains if you don't save now."

Boss: "That is just a trick to get you to save when you shouldn't."

[Middlesbrough]

My boss this morning:  "You shouldn't be saving for retirement yet.  Most of your savings will be in the last decade of your career when you are making the big money."

Me: "But what about getting match at least?  And you are missing the market gains if you don't save now."

Boss: "That is just a trick to get you to save when you shouldn't."


I try to keep my financial mouth closed around work.  The rest of the conversation was carefully dancing around the issue.

Just like a teenage girl, I can't even...

[Cheddar Stacker]

My boss this morning:  "You shouldn't be saving for retirement yet.  Most of your savings will be in the last decade of your career when you are making the big money."

Me: "But what about getting match at least?  And you are missing the market gains if you don't save now."

Boss: "That is just a trick to get you to save when you shouldn't."


I try to keep my financial mouth closed around work.  The rest of the conversation was carefully dancing around the issue.

Just like a teenage girl, I can't even...

It sounds like your boss is cultivating a herd of drones who will gladly work until 65. Little does (s)he know you might very well already be "in the last decade of your career". Boss' mind will explode when you FIRE.

[Cinder]

Mine too rural. Once the mirror is positioned correctly it is almost as fool proof device as you can get. Some times people just need to leave the wheel alone and stop trying to reinvent it. I'm sure $165 won't come close to touching the cameras of the future.must ask anybody who has had to replace the headlight on a prius.

Lucked out on this - turns out my wife's is a 2010 Prius.  Were it a 2009 (which I thought it was), would have had to remove the front bumper to replace the light bulb.

I have a 2008 Prius.  I was able to fit my hand in enough to pull out the assembly to change my headlight without removing my bumper.  YMMV

[Gin1984]

My boss this morning:  "You shouldn't be saving for retirement yet.  Most of your savings will be in the last decade of your career when you are making the big money."

Me: "But what about getting match at least?  And you are missing the market gains if you don't save now."

Boss: "That is just a trick to get you to save when you shouldn't."


I try to keep my financial mouth closed around work.  The rest of the conversation was carefully dancing around the issue.

Twitch, twitch, twitch.  I think this is worst thing I have ever heard.

[gimp]

Backup cameras are awesome, for, you know, not killing small children. (I guess it's even more awesome to teach children to respect and fear 2-ton steel machines, but hey, we can't have everything.)

With that said, I'd never replace mirrors with cameras using today's tech. Look, Sony makes the best goddamn sensors in the world, and they're amazing in the day, and they can be good at night... but in low light and poor light, you either get a lot of noise or you need long exposures. My eye needs neither of those things; it just works. It's the same issue of electronic viewfinder versus optical, on a camera: Optical lets me look through it at night and see stars. Some day that will change, but today is not that day _yet_.

The best solution today, I think, are electrochromic mirrors. They're great at night, because if you shine a bright light on them (ie, headlights) they tint themselves. They're common to use inside the car for a rearview, but less so on the outside.

Backup cameras are awesome, and I wouldn't mind them being required as a safety feature, or at least a cheap option, along with proximity sensors. But to replace mirrors? Not today. Maybe in ten years.

[grantmeaname]

How much nighttime fidelity do you really need to drive with, though? if it's enough for headlights and the reflections on signs that are behind you, aren't you 99% of the way there?

[GuitarStv]

Backup cameras are awesome, for, you know, not killing small children. (I guess it's even more awesome to teach children to respect and fear 2-ton steel machines, but hey, we can't have everything.)

I have an alternate, more natural approach.

I backup slowly with the window down.  If I hear a child screaming I know that there's a child under the back of the car and stop.  Of course, this hasn't happened to me because none of the people I know are stupid enough to let little kids run around behind vehicles that are backing up.

[Paul der Krake]

Don't worry, this is America, where nothing gets made into law without 40+ exclusions to grandfather half the population into the old plan. It's 2014 and you can still drive in NC without a passenger side rear-view mirror. I think self-driving cars will be a reality way before everyone is forced to have cameras on their vehicle.

[infogoon]

I always liked the old Datsuns with the sideview mirrors mounted out on the fenders. I wonder if that's still legal.

[shotgunwilly]

I have an alternate, more natural approach.

I backup slowly with the window down.  If I hear a child screaming I know that there's a child under the back of the car and stop.  Of course, this hasn't happened to me because none of the people I know are stupid enough to let little kids run around behind vehicles that are backing up.

Hahaha. +1

[Jane]

Backup cameras are awesome, for, you know, not killing small children. (I guess it's even more awesome to teach children to respect and fear 2-ton steel machines, but hey, we can't have everything.)

...

Backup cameras are awesome, and I wouldn't mind them being required as a safety feature, or at least a cheap option, along with proximity sensors. But to replace mirrors? Not today. Maybe in ten years.

I couldn't agree more with these two statements. There are tons of horrible stories of small children being killed by their own parents. Think of a little toddler, running out of the house excited to see daddy, runs behind the car, and daddy backs over her because she is shorter than the window. It can all happen so fast to any parent. Kids are swift little things.

Plus, there are so many idiots out there who don't check the direction their car is moving before actually stepping on the gas. I've been nearly hit multiple times by drivers backing up because they didn't check their rear view mirror, both in parking lots and just walking on the sidewalk past driveways. It's a lot harder to miss when there is a video playing right there on your dashboard of things moving behind your car.

[grantmeaname]

But is the solution to driver ignorance really more gadgets? To me backup cameras and lane-exit sensors are just more examples of learned helplessness, causing people to pay even less attention until it appears yet another "safety" device is needed.

[randymarsh]

But is the solution to driver ignorance really more gadgets? To me backup cameras and lane-exit sensors are just more examples of learned helplessness, causing people to pay even less attention until it appears yet another "safety" device is needed.

I'd love to live in a world where everyone was always 100% responsible and cautious when driving too, but that's not very realistic. People (even MMM readers) are tired, stressed, bored, etc. sometimes when driving. Honest mistakes do happen.

Systems like traction control and automatic braking react way faster and more precisely than even the best human driver could.

BTW, backup cameras are required for the 2018 model year. http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/31/autos/rear-facing-cameras/

[Jags4186]

But is the solution to driver ignorance really more gadgets? To me backup cameras and lane-exit sensors are just more examples of learned helplessness, causing people to pay even less attention until it appears yet another "safety" device is needed.

If you've never lived in a city situation where you drive around sometimes 30+ minutes to find an ultra tiny spot to parallel park in then you wouldn't understand the benefits of a back up camera.

[robotclown]

A coworker was talking about how he has to go get a money order to pay his rent (that was due on the 1st, so now they won't take a check,) but can't get it until payday.  Luckily, he won't have to worry about rent anymore, since he's buying a house. 

I didn't ask any follow-up questions.  Maybe I should have.

[AlmostIndependent]

A coworker was talking about how he has to go get a money order to pay his rent (that was due on the 1st, so now they won't take a check,) but can't get it until payday.  Luckily, he won't have to worry about rent anymore, since he's buying a house. 

I didn't ask any follow-up questions.  Maybe I should have.

Ha. You should ask where he's buying and say that's awesome, you've been hoping to pick up a foreclosure in that very area.

[SweetRedWine]

Backup cameras are awesome, for, you know, not killing small children. (I guess it's even more awesome to teach children to respect and fear 2-ton steel machines, but hey, we can't have everything.)

I have an alternate, more natural approach.

I backup slowly with the window down.  If I hear a child screaming I know that there's a child under the back of the car and stop.  Of course, this hasn't happened to me because none of the people I know are stupid enough to let little kids run around behind vehicles that are backing up.

Sadly, I live near people this stupid.  It wasn't too long ago that I almost backed over my neighbor's kid who was riding her bicycle.  We were both saved by my backup camera.  The parents won't change their ways, so now I back in to my parking space. 

[iris lily]

But is the solution to driver ignorance really more gadgets? To me backup cameras and lane-exit sensors are just more examples of learned helplessness, causing people to pay even less attention until it appears yet another "safety" device is needed.

and more laws?
Sadly, small creatures bigger than our adult selves are often at the mercy of bigger creatures.

The kids who are getting cooked in hot cars are a real tale of caution. Same for dogs. Today I heard about a national awareness campaign to "teach" parents that it is hot in cars by having them sit in a car with rolled up windows. One woman on the microphone said that she had her dog with her and "he is panting like crazy."

gosh, ya think?

[rocksinmyhead]

I started at a new job so I have been trying to familiarize myself with work benefits. I attended the HR benefit workshop and some of the things really shocked me.  By the way, this is one of the largest energy companies in U.S.

Me: I heard at the HR presentation that there is no discount for ESSP. Why would you buy if there is no discount? By the way, HR rep said you do not have pay brokerage fees when you buy so it is a great deal!!  I am serious. This is what she said:)
Coworker: Actually, I have been buying for several years.
Me: Are you serious? Why are you buying it? What is so special about this stock?
Coworker: It was going up so I bought it. For some reason, it started going down for the last couple of years. (By the way, she has a finance degree:) )

I also would be shocked because I feel like most non-tiny energy companies have really great benefits! I think I have the opposite "overheard at work"... we get a 15% discount with a lookback and there are people who DON'T buy in. we also get a 100% 401k match on the first 8%, vested immediately, and I swear to god I had a coworker who was contributing NOTHING. at our starting salary that's a free extra $7600 a year that she was just like, nope, no thanks! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!!!?!??

My boss this morning:  "You shouldn't be saving for retirement yet.  Most of your savings will be in the last decade of your career when you are making the big money."

Me: "But what about getting match at least?  And you are missing the market gains if you don't save now."

Boss: "That is just a trick to get you to save when you shouldn't."


I try to keep my financial mouth closed around work.  The rest of the conversation was carefully dancing around the issue.

hahahahhaha. WHAT

A coworker was talking about how he has to go get a money order to pay his rent (that was due on the 1st, so now they won't take a check,) but can't get it until payday.  Luckily, he won't have to worry about rent anymore, since he's buying a house. 

I didn't ask any follow-up questions.  Maybe I should have.

Ha. You should ask where he's buying and say that's awesome, you've been hoping to pick up a foreclosure in that very area.

hahahahahaha... you are terrible and a comedic genius!

[Daisy]

But is the solution to driver ignorance really more gadgets? To me backup cameras and lane-exit sensors are just more examples of learned helplessness, causing people to pay even less attention until it appears yet another "safety" device is needed.

If you've never lived in a city situation where you drive around sometimes 30+ minutes to find an ultra tiny spot to parallel park in then you wouldn't understand the benefits of a back up camera.

I think I was the one that started this whole backup camera discussion.

My main point is that it might be a useful tool, but REQUIRING it on cars is what I don't like.

And I'm more on the this fosters "learned helplessness" part of this discussion. My co-worker couldn't even conceive why I would object to being forced to have one in my car.

Kind of similar to GPS. Yes, it's a great tool. But now people are suspending common sense and their five physical senses when trying to find directions because the GPS tools are slowly killing the general population's ability to read maps and use logic (learning when to ignore GPS and go with what's right in front of them).

- I had a friend (Ivy League law school grad) call me and ask if she should follow her GPS's advice that she was at the entrance of a national park since she had just seen a sign that the entrance was in 5 miles. She was driving to meet me at the park.

- Another friend (masters degree in engineering and has worked at various startups) insist that we park in this desolate parking lot while looking for a restaurant because the red and blue dots on his GPS map said we were at the location. I objected because I looked around and couldn't find any signs of a restaurant around, but he parked anyways. Well, we parked and had to walk 5 minutes to get to the restaurant. At this point, he then walked back and moved his car closer to the restaurant.

Oops...I swore I wasn't going to go off on my GPS tirade but I did. Let me stop now before it gets worse (and it does)...

[wheatfree]

Backup cameras are awesome, for, you know, not killing small children. (I guess it's even more awesome to teach children to respect and fear 2-ton steel machines, but hey, we can't have everything.)

...

Backup cameras are awesome, and I wouldn't mind them being required as a safety feature, or at least a cheap option, along with proximity sensors. But to replace mirrors? Not today. Maybe in ten years.

I couldn't agree more with these two statements. There are tons of horrible stories of small children being killed by their own parents. Think of a little toddler, running out of the house excited to see daddy, runs behind the car, and daddy backs over her because she is shorter than the window. It can all happen so fast to any parent. Kids are swift little things.

Plus, there are so many idiots out there who don't check the direction their car is moving before actually stepping on the gas. I've been nearly hit multiple times by drivers backing up because they didn't check their rear view mirror, both in parking lots and just walking on the sidewalk past driveways. It's a lot harder to miss when there is a video playing right there on your dashboard of things moving behind your car.

My husband is a cop.  He just wrote a ticket to a doctor who backed into a parked armored car.  The doctor had a backup camera.  They're great little pieces of technology, but the first thing you need to engage when driving a car is your brain.

[Daisy]

BTW, backup cameras are required for the 2018 model year. http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/31/autos/rear-facing-cameras/

From the article:

Rear facing cameras, including those that automakers already offer, would save between 59 and 69 deaths a year, NHTSA said.

Any death is bad, but statistically speaking this is a miniscule amount. Too miniscule to require all drivers in the US to have cameras in their cars.

And if you really wanted to prevent deaths, you need to somehow connect the rear-view camera with an image processing capability to detect anything behind it to the braking system. That way, the driver doesn't even have to think about braking at all...because there is no guarantee the driver will be looking at the camera. In all likelihood, they will be looking at their smartphone while backing up (unfortunately). ;-)

[msilenus]

Rear facing cameras, including those that automakers already offer, would save between 59 and 69 deaths a year, NHTSA said.

Any death is bad, but statistically speaking this is a miniscule amount. Too miniscule to require all drivers in the US to have cameras in their cars.

EPA says a human life is worth about $7m.  That's about $420m/yr.   There are something like 16m cars sold in the U.S. annually.  So if you can do it for $25/car or less, you'll be coming out ahead when the old ones have aged out of the fleet.  At scale that should be doable.  The cameras in low-end cell phones sure aren't adding $25 (~25%) to the market cost.